This past weekend I had the opprtunity to pose as a Harley Guy. My original intent was to rent a Gold Wing, but when I showed up, there were none available. I was offered an Electra Glide Classic - the touring model. I took the bike through rural Virginia and then rode the length of Skyline Drive with my wife on the back.
To say that it was a different ride than the ST is an understatement. My quick and albeit biased review is as follows:
Fun factor - 9. There is no denying this bike has soul. It is kind of fun setting off car alarms.
Handling - 6. For the first hour, it was like riding a camel. Got used to it and was able to scrape floorboards at will. Brakes are vague and unlinked.
Acceleration - 6. Not neck-snapping, but respectable. The sound definitely let's you know what's going on.
Windshield - 4. First, it's fixed. Second, in right hand sweepers, your vision is split between looking through it and over it.
Side bags - 2. OMG. They're more like pockets than bags. They'll fit a Harley Helmet in them, but you'll never get a full face in there. I actually had to repack my belongings in order for them to fit.
Trunk - 8. A ton of room and easily accessible. Needs to be made out of a studrier material.
CD Player - 10. Tunes while riding!! Thumbs way up.
Once I got onto some slab, the bike came into its own. The sixth gear really helped. At 80, I was barely pulling 2700 rpm. If I lived in a place with little or no twisties and sweepers, this would be the bike. YMMV.
To say that it was a different ride than the ST is an understatement. My quick and albeit biased review is as follows:
Fun factor - 9. There is no denying this bike has soul. It is kind of fun setting off car alarms.
Handling - 6. For the first hour, it was like riding a camel. Got used to it and was able to scrape floorboards at will. Brakes are vague and unlinked.
Acceleration - 6. Not neck-snapping, but respectable. The sound definitely let's you know what's going on.
Windshield - 4. First, it's fixed. Second, in right hand sweepers, your vision is split between looking through it and over it.
Side bags - 2. OMG. They're more like pockets than bags. They'll fit a Harley Helmet in them, but you'll never get a full face in there. I actually had to repack my belongings in order for them to fit.
Trunk - 8. A ton of room and easily accessible. Needs to be made out of a studrier material.
CD Player - 10. Tunes while riding!! Thumbs way up.
Once I got onto some slab, the bike came into its own. The sixth gear really helped. At 80, I was barely pulling 2700 rpm. If I lived in a place with little or no twisties and sweepers, this would be the bike. YMMV.